Guard-rail chair.



A. G. LIEBMANN.

GUARD RAIL CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1913.

(Irm Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

A. G-Z/ z'e/marwz UNTTED STATES PATENT UFFTCE.

AUGUST G. LIEBMANN, 0F BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR TO VIGNOLES RAIL CHAIR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. 35., A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GUARD-RAIL CHAIR.

Application filed August 2?, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, AUGUST G. LIEB- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guard-Rail Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway track appliance and particularly to rail chairs designed for the support of main rails and guard rails at frogs and switches and upon bridges, trestles, etc. The chair is also designed for use on very sharp curves both on the main line and in terminal yards in connection with guard rails. The lateral thrust on the rails at curves, turnouts and other like situations is very severe and the outer spikes are generally reinforced by braces which are spiked to the tie and bear against the side of the rail, thus taking the outward thrust. Guard rails and the lead rail of turnouts are also reinforced by these braces. Unless the braces are well designed and well looked after their value will be very considerably reduced by the outer edge of the rail brace cutting into the tie, the load being thus thrown on top of the brace and tending to raise its heel. It is oftentimes the case that frog guard rails and switch guard rails are not used in yards on account of the liability of operators stumbling over them or getting their feet caught under the rail heads in the angles at the floor ends of the guard rails. Men working in the yards are often caught and killed in this manner and as these accidents are especially common in terminal yards several States vhave passed laws compelling the use of foot guards composed of mere wood blocking which rots away and is left as a tra The primary object of the invention is to provide chair adapted to support a lead rail and a guard rail and hold them in proper spaced relation to each other and provide means for resisting the lateral thrust upon these rails.

A further object of the invention is to provide a type of chair adapted to be used in terminal yards for holding a guard rail and lead rail in proper relation, this chair,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 26, 1915.

Serial No. 787,007.

however, being so designed that it will eliminate all danger of operators getting their feet caught, as previouslv described.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair so constructed that both the lead rail and guard rail are securely connected in proper spaced relation and both the lead rail and guard rail being reinforced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair which will permit the guard and main rails to be secured in proper spaced relation, and specifically, to provide means whereby the rails may be shifted laterally and securely held in vertically adjusted position upon shims within the chair, without disturbance of the fastening devices securing the chair to a sub-structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair so constructed that a guard rail and lead rail may be transversely shifted together within the chair and held in their laterally shifted position and elevated at different variations of height upon shims.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the chair that shimming of the lead rail and guard rail in unison may be permitted.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a tie, a lead rail and a guard rail, and the improved rail chair thereon. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1, the spacing block and inside lead rail brace being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 2, the rails being in section and one of the abutments and wedging blocks therefor being in section.

Referring to these drawings A designates the tie, B the lead rail and C the guard rail. The tie may be of any suitable form but is illustrated as a .wood tie and the rails are illustrated as of standard cross section.

Disposed upon the tie A is a base plate 2 having an ordinary structural form such as that of a deformed T-bar. The base plate 2 is held to the tie by means of spikes 3 disposed at the corners of the base plate, these spikes being preferably screw spikes of the usual standard form. The base plate is provided at its opposite ends with upstanding abutments 4:. These abutments extend transversely across the width of the base plate 2 parallel to the rails carried thereon and are formed with vertical inside faces. Each abutment is provided at its middle with a horizontally disposed slot 5.

Disposed against the inside face of the rail B is the inside lead rail brace 6. This brace is vertically disposed and extends be tween and fits against the under side of the head of the rail and the upper side of the base thereof. As illustrated in Fig. 2, this brace 6 is formed with a longitudinally extending groove 7, the inner wall of which is inclined toward the middle of the brace and then inclined outwardly. Disposed between the brace b and the guard rail C is a spacing block 8. "One side of this block is so formed as to fit between and bear against the head of the guard rail and the base flange thereof, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. This block 8 is longer that the rail brace 6 and is formed at its ends with lips 9 which extend over the ends of the rail brace and hold the rail brace from any longitudinal movement relative to the block. The block is formed upon its face confronting the brace 6 with a longitudinal groove 10 which registers with the groove 7 formed in the rail brace. Each end of the spacing block is formed with an outwardly projecting integral lug 11 through which passes a vertically disposed screw 12. These screws 12 pass downwardly between the base flanges of the guard and lead rails and engage the adjacent side edges of the base plate 2. These screws formlocking members which prevent longitudinal shifting of the block 8 relative to the base plate. lVhile it is not desired to limit the invention to the use of the screws 12 as locking members inasmuch as any vertically disposed element extending below the upper face of the wear plate or base plate would to some extent fulfil the function of these screws, yet preferably the screws are employed for a reason to be later stated.

For the purpose of holding the block 8 and the brace 6 locked to each other, there is provided a key 13. This key is obtusely angled and has the form of a brakeshoe key, the apex of the key when the key is in position being coincident with the apex of the groove 7, and the ends of the key bear against the wall of the groove 10 formed in the spacing block 8, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 2.

Disposed against the outside faces of the rails B and C are rail braces lIi:. These rail braces are rolled steel sections of fishing angles and each rail brace bears at its upper end against the head of the corresponding rail and at its lower end against the margin 0 the base flange thereof the outer face 0 each brace being downwardly and out wardly inclined. r

Disposed between each abutment and the corresponding rail brace 1a is a laterally and vertically adjustable wedging member 15 having a length slightly greater than the corresponding rail brace 14 and being formed with a lip 16 engaging over the ends of tile corresponding rail brace. The inside face of each of these wedging members is downwardly and outwardly inclined so as to fit against the downwardly and outwardly inclined outer ace of tie adjacent rail brace 1%, while the outer face of each wedging member is vertical and bears against the inside vertical face of the adjacent abutment l. Each wedging member is formed with a vertical slot 17 at its middle, said slot extending downwardly and then downwardly and out wardly as at 18. The slots or recesses open upon the outer faces of the wedging members and when the wedging members are in position the slots, as illustrated in Fig. 3, open into the slots or recesses 5 in the abutments. Disposed in each of the slots 17 is a locking member 19 angularly formed so as to provide at the lower end an outwardly projecting lug 20 which passes through the adjacent slot 5. The inner face of the lower end of each locking member 19 is inclined as at 21 corresponding with the inclination of the face 18 of the adjacent slot 17. The lugs 20 are slightly enlarged at their ends, as at 22, so as to look over the abutments as illustrated clearly at the right hand side of Fig. 3.

Each locking member 19 is held in proper locking position by means of a locking wedge 23 which passes through a transverse slot formed in the upper end of the locking member 19, these wedges 23 bearing against the upper faces of the wedging members 15. Each wedge :23 is itself held from displace ment by any suitable means, as by a bolt or a cotter pin designated 24.

lVith the construction as heretofore described and as illustrated, the guard rail is held in spaced relation from the main rail or lead rail by means of the brace 6 and block 8. The rails are forced toward each other and held in locked engagement against the brace 6 and block 8 by means of the wedging members 15 which are forced downwardly into tight vedging engagement with the corresponding rail brace 14. Each wedge member 15 is held in this wedging engagement by means of the key or wedge 23, the locking member 19 being prevented from moving vertically by reason of its lug 20 engaging through the aperture 5.

Now if it is desired to shift the guard rail and lead rail laterally it is only necessary to remove the keys 23. This will permit the wedging members 15 to be shifted are provided.

vertically. After the rails have been properly adjusted laterally the wedging members are replaced and the keys 23 driven home. One of the wedging members under these circumstances will be raised and the other lowered from their normal position so as jio accommodate the lateral shifting of the m1 s.

If it be desired to elevate the rails, the keys 23 are removed and shims are disposed beneath the rails or either one of them, thus elevating the rails and the brace plates 14:. The keys 23 are again driven home locking the parts in their adjusted position. Inasmuch as the spacing block 8 and the rail brace 6 will be elevated it is necessary to turn down the screws 12 so as to cause them to engage on either side edge of the base plate 2 and thus prevent any longitudinal movement of the spacing block and the brace 6. It is for the purpose of permitting this vertical adjustment and at the same time provide for locking the block 8 from any longitudinal movement that the screws 12 If these member 12 were rigid with the spacing block and were not vertically adjustable, then when the spacing block was raised the members 12 would escape the ends of the base plate and the spacing block would not be locked against lcn gitudinal movement.

In assembling the rails upon the chair the rails are disposed upon the chair with the spacing block 8 and the brace 6 in position holding the guard rail and the lead rail in standard spaced relation. The rail braces are then disposed against the outer sides of the rails and the wedges placed in position and locked by means of the locking members 19. The keys 23 are then driven home until the various elements of the chair are locked tightly against the rails. It will be seen that the chair heretofore described braces the rails against lateral thrust and is, therefore, particularly applicable at curves and turnouts where such thrust is very severe. It will further be seen that the rails may be at all times kept in their proper position and that tl e height of the rails may be at all times adjusted. Further it will be noted that the guard rail and lead rail are held not only in proper spaced relation but in proper vertical relation so that the two rails will be elevated the same amount and the guard rail will always be held in proper position relative to the lead rail. Thus the obsolete methodof redriving and renewing spikes is obviated by the use of this chair as the rails may-be shifted both laterally and vertically and held securely within the chair without any damage being done to the tie by redriving of spikes. It will also be noted that the base plate 2 has a width equal to that of the tie and that, therefore, the pressure upon the tie is very widely distributed and crushing strain minimized. Inasmuch as the base plate 2 is intended to be disposed permanently upon the tie and inasmuch as respiking is entirely obviated, it is obvious that the tie used may be a treated tie or a metallic tie. At the present time where respiking has to be done in order to adjust the rails, the treatment of ties by preservatives is not economical as the tie has too short a life. By the use of the pres ent chair the life of the tie may be very greatly increased and thus treated ties may be economically used.

Not only do the screws 12 prevent longitudinal slipping of the pacing block 8 and brace 6, but said scr vs prevent the shim when used from slipping out. Preferably this spacing block is a malleable casting.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a rail chair for guard and lead rails, means for spacing a guard and lead rail from each other, and means for permitting lateral and vertical adjustment of the guard and lead rails with respect to the chair.

2. In a rail chair for guard and lead rails, means for spacing a guard and lead rail from each other, means for permitting unitary lateral and vertical adjustment of the guard and lead rails, and means for locking the guard and lead rails in difierent positions of lateral and vertical adjustment.

3. In a rail chair for guard and lead rails, means for spacing the guard and lead rails from each other, means permitting vertical unitary adjustment of the guard and lead rails, and means for locking the guard and lead rails in their vertically adjusted position.

1. In a rail chair for guard and lead rails, a base plate upon which the rails are sup ported, spacing memb rs disposed between the guard and lead rails and locked to the body of the chair from longitudinal move ment, means for adjusting the guard rails, lead rails, and saacing members laterally and vertically with relation to the chair, and means for locking said rails and spacing members in adjusted position.

5. In a rail chair for guard and lead rails, a base plate upon wiich the rails are disposed, spacing members disposed between the rails locked to each other and detachahly locked to one of the rails from longitudinal movement, rail braces engaging against the outer faces of the lead and guard rails, vertically movable wedging members engaging said braces, and means for locking said. wedging members in adjusted position.

6. A rail chair for guard and lead rails comprising a base plate having upstanding abutments spaced from each other a distance greater than the width of the bases of said guard and lead rails, spacing members disposed between the guard and lead rails,

downwardly and outwardly inclined rail braces engaging the outer faces of the guard and lead rails, and vertically movable wedging members having inclined inner faces disposed one between each of said abutments and the corresponding rail brace, and means for locking said wedges in vertically adjusted position.

7. A rail chair of the character described, comprising a base plate having upstanding abutments at opposite ends, spacing members adapted to be disposed between a guard and lead rai upwardly and inwardly inclined rail braces disposed between said abutments, vertically movable wedging members disposed one oetween each of the rail braces and the corresponding abutment, a slotted member carried by each abutment and extending above the corresponding wedge member, and wedging keys passing through the slots of said members and engaging the upper faces of the corresponding wedging m mbers.

8. The combination with a tie and spaced rails thereon, of a rail chair comprising a base plate disposed upon saic tie and supporting said rails and having upstanding abutments, spacing members detachably interlocked wi h. each other and disposed between the rails, means on one of the spacing members engaging the base plate and preventing longitudinal movement of the specing members relative to the base plate, down wardly and outwardly inclined rail braces engagin against the outer faces of the rails, wedging mem ers having inclined inner faces engaging each against a corresponding rail brace and disposed between said rail brace and the corresponding abutment, means carried by the abutments interlocking with the wedging members and preventing longitiiidinal movement thereof, and means pissing through said last named means and engaging the wedging members and holding them locked in any desired vertically adjusted position.

9. combination with a tie and spaced rails thereon, a rail chair comprising a base plate having oppositely disposed upstanding abutments, each of said abutinents being longitudinally slotted, spacing members disposed between said rails and interlocked with ash other, rail braces each enagainst the outer face of one of the and extending between the head and rails base flange thereof, each brace having a downwardly and outwardly inclined outer face, a vertically movable wedging member disposed between each abutment and corresponding rail brace, each of said wedging members being formed with a vertical slot upon its outer face registering with the slot in the corresponding abutment, an angular locking member disposed in the slot of each wedging member and having its angular end engaging through the slot in the corresponding abutment, each of said angular locking members being formed with a slot at its upper end, and wedging keys passing through the slots of the locking members and bearing against the upper faces of the wedging members.

10. The combination with spaced rails, of spacing members disposed between the rails and interlocked with each other, one of said members having downwardly extending vertically adjustable elements adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of the spacing members.

11. The combination with spaced railsand a supporting member therefor, of spacing members disposed between the rails and interlocked with each other, one of said members having vertically adjustable downwardly extending members engaging over the adjacent sides of the supporting member to prevent longitudinal movement of the spacing members with relation thereto.

12. The combination with a rail supporting member and spaced rails thereon, of means for spacing said rails from each other, said means comprising a brace disposed against the web of one rail and having a groove, a spacing block disposed against the other rail having a corresponding groove, and a detachable key holding said members in locked position.

13. The combination with a rail supporting member and spaced rails thereon, of means for spacing said rails from each other, said means comprising a brace disposed against the web of one rail and having a groove, the wall ofsaid groove being longitudinal angular, a spacing block disposed against the other rail having a corresponding groove, and an angular h y holding said parts in locked position, the apex of the key fitting the apex of the groove in the said brace.

14. The combination with a rail supporting member and spaced rails thereon, of means for spacing said rails from each other, said means comprising a brace disposed against the web of one rail and having a groove, the wall of said groove being longitudinally angular, a spacing block disposed against the other rail and having a corresponding groove, an angular key holding said parts in locked position, the apex of the key fitting the apex of the groove in the said brace, and vertically extending members carried at the ends of the said spacing block and engaging over the edges of the supporting member.

15. T 1e combination with a rail supporting member and spaced rails thereon, of means for spacing said rails from each other, said means comprising a brace having one face thereof disposed against the web of one rail and its other face provided with a groove, the wall of said groove being longitudinally angular, a spacing block disposed against the other rail and having a groove facing the groove in the brace, an angular lrey holding said parts in locked position, the apeX of the key fitting the apex of the groove in the said brace, and vertically adjustable screws carried at the ends of the said spacing block and engaging over the side faces of the supporting member.

16. The combination with a tie, a lead rail and a guard rail, of a base plate disposed between the tie and the rails and having upstanding transversely extending abutments, spacing members disposed between the lead and guard rails and cbmprising a longitudinally grooved rail brace, a longitudinally grooved spacing block, a resilient angular locking key, the spacing block being formed at its ends with screw threaded lugs, vertically adjustable screws passing through said lugs and one on each side of the base plate, rail braces engaging the outer faces of the rails, vertically movable wedges engaging between the abutments and said rail braces, and means for vertically adjusting and locking said wedges.

17. The combination with a tie and spaced rails, of a chair adapted to receive the rails, means for permanently securing the chair to the tie, and means for permitting lateral and vertical adjustment of the rails with respect to the chair without disturbing the chair securing means.

18. A. rail chair including a base plate having upstanding abutments spaced apart a distance sullicient to permit a pair of rails to be adjusted both laterally and vertically with respect to the base plate, and means for holding said rails in different positions of lateral and vertical adjustment.

19. A rail chair comprising a base plate having a seat and erect abutments, means for spacing one or more rails between the abutments, means whereby the rails may be adjusted laterally and vertically with respect to the base plate, and means for looking said rails in different positions of adjustment.

20. A rail chair comprising a base plate having upstanding abutments defining an intermediate seat adapted to support one or more rails thereon or on shims, means for simultaneously adjusting the rails laterally with respect to the seat, and means for holding the rails in different positions of lateral and vertical adjustment.

In testimony whereof, I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST Gr. LIEBMANN. [1,. s]

Witnesses:

J. D. YOAKLEY, Fannnmo B. WRIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

